Tēna koutou e te whānau

Welcome to the special Election 2023 edition of Te Mahinga Ora. As polling day October 14 approaches we are proudly standing together for public and community services and the workers - you, our members - who deliver them. In this journal we set out the key issues you have told us matter to you and how you can talk to your whanau and your communities about using their vote to get the best result for Aotearoa.

The PSA is not affiliated to any political party and we have a proud 110 year history of seeking to work constructively with the government of the day for the benefit of our members. Our election agenda has been shaped by you, our members who work across the motu in thousands of departments, agencies, health services, councils, community and iwi providers, and non-government agencies. We have sought commitments from the political parties about their policies and their responses are summarised in the pull-out.

You can also find more detailed information, including the parties’ full responses to our policy questionnaire, on our Election 2023 microsite at www.standtogether2023.co.nz. On this site you can also sign our pledge to vote for excellent and universal public and community services. We will be adding resources to help you have conversations with workmates, whānau and friends, social media shareables, questions for local candidates meetings, advice on being active in the election campaign as a public servant, and more.

The delivery of public and community services often end up as part of political debate. This year though, it seems the attacks on public and community services and those that support and deliver them has become more direct and harsher. The work of PSA members is part of the political debate and the PSA, your union, has stepped up to counter the negative rhetoric and promote your great work and the difference your work makes.

Change is constant and we need to know that the government we elect will back community and public services. Recently the current government announced a savings drive which will be of concern to members, so it was very welcome to see that chief executives were instructed to work with PSA members to put proposals together which avoid job losses. Other progressive parties want to see a greater role for public and community services in the future.

Despite these challenges we enter this election in a great state. We recently recruited our 90,000^th member and membership continues to grow. We have never had such a powerful voice and I urge you to use it to tell your friends and whānau how important it is to vote for parties who are committed to ensuing public and community services form a key plank in building a better, fairer and greener Aoteaora.

Naku iti noa, na

Benedict Ferguson (He/Him)

President Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi | PSA

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PSA reaches 90,000 members

There’s power in the union, and our union just grew a bit more!

By working collectively, we have now reached 90,000 members! This is an amazing achievement that we can all be proud of.

When members join the PSA, they know they are joining a large union committed to building better workplaces. Whether it’s negotiating collective agreements or standing up for employees’ rights, we strive to be a strong, modern and influential union.

We’re also committed to positive social changes to improve the societies we live in. We advocate to influencing change more widely in our society to build a more inclusive and equitable Aotearoa.

Our collective power is strong. With 90,000 members and counting, we’ll continue to fight for work to be valued, safe, secure, and free from bias and discrimination. #PSAstrong

Women's network conference

Twenty-three members of PSA’s Women’s Network attended the NZCTU Women’s Conference. The conference theme was ‘Fire in my belly – organising for the future’.

Saunoamaali’i Dr Karanina Sumeo spoke about pay equity for Pacifica women. Tory Whanau spoke about being wāhine Māori in a predominately male world. Minister for Women Jan Tinetti spoke about pay equity settlements and the work still to be done.

PSA’s Kuia Georgina Kerr won the Union Women’s Award. Read more about Georgina’s achievements on page.

Wellington PSA Building relocation

Our Wellington office will be temporarily relocating to enable completion of earthquake strengthening of PSA House on Aurora Terrace. All staff and services will be relocating to Fujitsu House, 141 The Terrace, a short distance away from our current location.

The building is also accessible from Cable Car lane off Lambton Quay. Delegates and members who have training or meetings booked at PSA House will be emailed details of the new location once our relocation date is confirmed.

It is expected we will be located in Fujitsu House for up to 18 months

Did you notice a few more magazines in your pack than normal, perhaps have some excess copies in your office?

The September issue of Te Mahinga Ora covers a wide range of issues. Including information for first time voters, the importance of Public Servants, and why we should all be voting in this year’s general election.

We want everyone to have good information before making their vote.

With that in mind we have provided additional copies of Te Mahinga Ora.

Ahead of this election we encourage you to take copies of these beyond the workplace, share copies with you friends, family, and take a copy to your church or sports club.

Use them as a conversation starter about voting in this year’s election.

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Ahead of the election, we’re launching our election campaign: Stand Together 2023.

The campaign focuses on the issues that we as New Zealanders are all facing, and that we all recognise are important.

Surveys of our membership

In our survey of members you told us that the cost of living, climate change, and housing are key issues this
election. Flooding in the North Island shows the necessity of an urgent response to climate change. The cost
of living continues to climb. And for many, secure and affordable housing is just as unattainable as ever.
Public and community services are part of the solution to all these challenges, but they are also at risk.

Right-wing parties say they will cut funding if elected. These parties do not recognise all that you do for this country – all the services you provide for people, that keep Aotearoa working.

You, and the work that you do, are essential to a better future for Aotearoa. All your voices calling for community and public services to be part of progressive solutions can be powerful and influential.

We need to do more

This election could lead to the most progressive or right-wing government the country has seen in some time. We must vote, and vote for parties that will support the need for a better Aotearoa.

Our friends, colleagues, and whanau, share different views to us. It’s what makes us unique. They possibly share different views on who to vote for as well. Someone you know might be swayed by misinformation, not realising that when the parties attack community and public services, services they rely on, and your jobs, are at risk.

They might be a first-time voter who thinks “it doesn’t matter what I do my vote, it won’t make a difference”.

Despite our differences, we are all facing the same problems and community and public services are part of the solution. It is time to come together and vote for strong community and public services in a progressive Aotearoa.

Together we can make a difference with a values-based election

We can use our collective power to improve Aotearoa’s public services and the communities they serve.

We know our collective voice gives us strength. Now we need to strengthen this voice by having real, well-informed conversations about the issues, and how voting can make a difference.

We have put together some simple information to help you encourage others to vote for a progressive and equitable Aotearoa where the public service has the resources and conditions it requires to meet the needs of the people and help communities thrive.

This information is related to issues that are facing all New Zealanders, for you to share as widely as possible.

How do we do this

In this election, you have the power and the ability to share your worth. Whether it’s bringing friends and whānau onside or taking part in a campaign event, your union is behind you and your collective efforts will make a difference this election.

This journal shares the values that guide us, the issues we care about, and why others should be thinking about them when they vote.

We have developed a score card based on a series of questions we asked to political parties. This will help you and others see what the parties’ positions are on the values that matter most to us all.

Along with that, this issue of the journal has election guidance so you can be sure of your rights as a public servant.

You will read stories about misinformation, public services and the importance they offer, and a guide for first time voters.

All of this will help you talk, share and encourage people to vote for a better future for Aotearoa.

We encourage you to share copies of this journal, put up posters, and talk to friends and whānau. And when it comes time to vote, vote for the values and policies that will make Aotearoa a place where everyone can get what they need to thrive.

For more information, resources, including posters, social media shareables and videos visit standtogether2023.co.nz.

Our values

Being active and informed during an election enables us all to come together to support our vision for progressive Aotearoa.

The hardship felt across the country by many is driving the election debate this year.

To stimulate your thinking about the election and to help you discuss the issues with others, we have developed a series of summaries of election issues for you.

We have focused on subjects that matter to PSA members, and that we all need to be thinking about when it comes time to vote.

Community and Public Services

We want the people of New Zealand Aotearoa to have excellent, universal public and community services enabling, everyone to have the resources they need. Public Services are essential for strong communities.

Yet public services are stretched by not having enough resourcing, not being universal, not having the capacity to ensure that they are equitable. As well, parties on the right are threatening to severely cut public services.

When you vote this election, look for a party that will, resource the public service sufficiently and ensures the equitable delivery of public services to Māori and our most vulnerable

Tax

Public services play a key role in Aotearoa's future. These services are funded by taxation. Currently our tax system does not collect enough money to adequality fund public services, and vast amounts of wealth are left untaxed.

Tax is a way for us to pay for services collectively as a country so, the costs of services do not fall unfairly on people who are already struggling to pay their bills. We need to see a better funded tax system that generates revenue from those who can afford it while easing pressure on those who are less able to pay.

Climate

For many, climate change is posing an imminent threat to families, and their homes. We have heard a lot of talk from the government, politicians, and businesses but little meaningful action.

We want an Aotearoa that is truly clean and green. A country that has drastically reduced emissions, uses energy and resources that are renewable, and nurtures and protects the natural environment.

We want a country that is protected from the effects of climate change that we’re already  experiencing while working to prevent worse happening in the future. And we want to ensure that communities that are at risk from climate change get the resources and support they need to adapt, and for workers in high-emission industries to have a clear and just pathway to transition to cleaner jobs.

Cost of living

We want everyone to have access to what they need to live and thrive, it’s not just about the 'essentials', everyone deserves enough to live a fulfilled and joyful life.

We can come together to solve the cost of living crisis by working towards the best outcomes for everyone, rather than a wealthy few.

We can make change by voting for a government that will:

• commit to public and community funding services to keep pace with the cost of living
• raise the minimum wage and rate of parental leave so both reflect the living wage.
• introduce rent control
• make public transport free

Local Government

Local Government serves the wellbeing of our communities. It provides us with libraries, recycling, parks, and swimming pools to name just a few of the valuable resources we all enjoy.

Strong public and community services are at the heart of thriving communities across Aotearoa.

To continue to thrive, we need to see a government that supports local government with actions like:

• Enabling local government to have sustainable funding that goes beyond rates.
• Continuing the water services reforms currently underway
• Acting on the recommendations of the future local government review.

Pay Equity and Industrial relations.

Everyone should be compensated fairly for the work they do. We should all feel safe and supported in our jobs.

Everyone should receive the same pay for the jobs that are of equal value, regardless of gender identity, ethnicity, disability, or sexuality.

Unions have played a part in delivering pay equity for many and will continue to do so. However, the next government could also roll back the valuable gains we have made in pay equity.

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The PSA Youth team have got you covered with Elections 101.

They have put together questions and answers on your rights, an why and how to vote

When is election day?

Saturday 14th October.

You can vote any time from the 2nd to the 14th of October.

What am I voting on in the general election?

You get two votes in the election — a party vote and an electorate vote. Your party vote is for the political party you want to be in government. Your electorate vote is for the candidate you would like to be the MP for the area you live in.

Why vote?

Voting is a chance to select a party that will represent your views in Parliament. Technically you don’t have to vote. However, if you have concerns, views, or things that you want to see changed in this country, voting is one of the most powerful things you can do. You are voting in the people that make the decisions.

Does my one vote even matter?

Yes, it does. To name a couple of times when voting counted look back the very close vote on the cannabis referendum, a few votes could have tipped the scales for that to be passed. There was the referendum on the changing of the New Zealand flag, which saw us keep the current flag. One vote can make a difference and you don’t want it to be yours that is missing!

How can I register to vote?

If you haven’t registered to vote, or your details might be in correct e.g. you have moved house recently visit vote.nz to enrol or update your details.

What is the difference between the Māori roll and the General Roll?

Māori can choose to vote on the Māori role. Choosing to enrol on the Māori roll means that you will vote for a candidate in their Māori electorate, instead of their general electorate. The person who wins the most votes in the Māori electorate will become your local MP.

How do I know what electorate I am part of?

If your address is up to date, you will receive an electoral pack which contains all the information you need to know. You can check your details and find out your electorate by visiting vote.nz.

Do I have to vote on the day of elections?

You can vote early. Early voting opens on Monday 2 October. And you can vote on Election Day, but this is the last chance you will have to complete your vote. Polls are open until 7pm on Election Day.

If you can’t get to early voting, and you have to work on Election Day, your employer must give you reasonable time off to vote.

Where can I go to vote?

There are heaps of locations you can vote in! Schools, libraries, public halls, and churches all around your town will have voting places open. You will get a list of places you can vote at in your election pack, or you can go to vote.nz.

Can I vote online?

Only if you live overseas

What if I am out of my electorate while voting is open?

You can cast what is called a special vote.

If you’re somewhere else in the country while voting is open, go to your nearest voting place with your ID. The scrutineers will look you up in the system and give you a special voting form so you can still vote for your local electorate even though you are not at home.

How do I know who to vote for?  And where can I find out more about who to vote for?

Start with research. If you aren’t familiar with the parties, you can start with the political parties’ websites, which contain information about their policies and their candidates.

From there consider how you view the world, what you want changed, and what politicians and parties fit within that.

When considering who to vote for, find out what the parties’ positions or statements are, and check if they align with your views.

Have a look at the included pull-out score card. We asked the parties questions about issues that are important to our members, and parties’ answers can help inform you vote.

For more information on early voting, overseas voting, and registering to vote visit vote.nz. For
further information on the election and parties' positions, visit standtogether2023.co.nz

Related documents

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PSAY-voting-101-A3-poster.pdf

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In the inevitable election year attacks on the public service, two areas that are often particularly criticised are policy and communications.

To hear another side of the story, we talked with four public service sector members who work in these areas about the value of their work.

Mark - Policy Advisor

Mark’s work makes a positive difference for some of New Zealand’s most vulnerable people by helping apply the legislation covering financial assistance to those in need.

“We have a policy of full and correct entitlement, and my role is to make sure that my team gets the right information to ensure that happens" says Mark

With eight-years frontline experience, Mark knows the importance of policy work and positive difference the “back office” mahi makes, particularly when things get tough for those working with the public.

When Cyclone Gabrielle ravaged the North Island, Mark and his team used their knowledge to respond to an unprecedented situation.

“We had to be on top of the evolving situation, while still maintaining day-to-day support. The rules needed to be changed and updated quickly to ensure those in need got the support they were entitled to.

"Many of our staff worked additional hours, public holidays and weekends to make sure everyone in crisis got the support they need.

Briar - Senior Policy Analyst

Briar's work focuses on identifying the policy and legislation needed to reduce carbon emissions from the waste sector. She researches and writes policy papers, while staying on top of the news, and what's happening in Parliament and select committees.

Briar's work contributes to New Zealand's efforts to mitigate climate change, which in turn will help lessen the impact of climate change like flooding and sea level rise.

“I'm working on building a low-emissions and low-waste society, to reduce the environmental consequences created by our current linear approach to resource use."

Industries like transport, energy, and agriculture, as well as climate change organisations benefit from Briar’s work.

Briar says the role of policy analyst is to present all the workable options to the political decision makers in what is a highly contentious area.

“We work as public servants because we care. We want to make this country better. I get to help ensure a full and balanced voice for the environment in facing the urgent challenge of climate change".

Brianna and JS - website domain specialists

Communications work is also widely misunderstood. Communications people are often mischaracterised as merely “spin doctors” out to frustrate the media.

The reality is that most communications work in the public service, health and local government involves keeping the public informed via websites and social media channels, publications, posters, newsletters and campaigns.

Brianna and JS help meet the public’s demand for information in their roles as domain specialists responsible for a website that is accessed 24/7.

Brianna says their work means people “don’t have to spend hours on a phone waiting to talk to someone” but can find out their entitlements quickly and easily online.

JS says criticism of communications work is short sighted.

“Our team is working to help people all the time, and if it suddenly ceased, how would people access the information they needed in a  24/7 format?"

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We all need good information to make good decisions. We recognise that misinformation is a growing area of concern for many. Misinformation is a big barrier to people understanding the issues that matter, and it's likely to play a bigger role in this election than any before.

Workers are disproportionately harmed by misinformation, so this is a space where unions and members alike must act.

What is misinformation and why does it matter?

Misinformation is information that is incorrect and misleading. It isn’t always shared with the intention to mislead but can be done without realising that it is happening.

Misinformation damages our trust in and connection to others. It compromises decision making and undermines our democratic process.

The more exposed we are to a piece of information or idea, the more we come to understand it as true. With repetition of information, from multiple sources, it’s easy for this misinformation to become familiar. We become less sceptical, and with time we come to understand it as true.

How do you counter misinformation?

Being able to have productive, non-conformational conversations in real life or on social media is an important skill for combating misinformation. At a minimum, an effective conversation will leave people open to considering true information. If the conversation happens where other people can see or hear it, you’ll benefit people listening or observing, even the person you talk to isn’t open to accurate information.

These conversations are hard to have…

We know how tricky these conversations can be. The good news is there are tested ways to counter misinformation. The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU) wanted to provide workers with the resources they need to identify and counter misinformation.

In conjunction with The Workshop, the NZCTU have developed a 90-minute workshop that will help you identify the different types of misinformation. You’ll also learn and practice the most effective ways to talk about misinformation at work, and with the people you care about.

The aim is to provide a useful and helpful approach to talking about the big issues of our time.

You will leave this workshop with techniques to counter misinformation and deepen understanding of the issues that matter for all New Zealanders this election.

With free trainings occurring in September and October, make sure you register for a workshop here:

https://fighting-back-against-misinformation.lilregie.com/booking/attendees/new

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Whaea Georgina won the Union Women’s Award, which the Council gives to those who have made outstanding contributions to their unions and in advancing union women’s issues.

Georgina has a long history of addressing sexism and racism in her workplaces and unions, while forming the Student Teachers’ Association, working as a kindergarten teacher, and at the Education Review Office.

A key advocate

Georgina has been a key advocate for wāhine Māori workers in the wider public service, beyond her own workplace and her own union.

As a claimant in the PSA’s Mana Wāhine Waitangi Tribunal claim, Georgina argued that the government’s
treatment of wāhine Māori within the public service was a breach of Te Tiriti. She worked with younger wāhine to develop the next level of leaders and ensure that the claim represented a full range of experiences.

Georgina continually challenges the PSA to improve its governance structures to ensure Māori voice is a
key part of the organisation. As Kuia to the PSA, she provides manaaki and tautoko with her knowledge and
guidance on Tikanga Māori and her wealth of experience working in the Education Sector.

Closing the pay gap

Georgina sits on Te Whakapiri, the oversight group for Kia Toipoto – the government’s pay gap action plan.  Here she does important work to push to end gender and ethnic discrimination in the public service. The work she has been part of has seen the gender and Māori pay gaps fall by almost half in the public service.

Georgina’s work pushing her workplaces, her unions, and the wider public service to honour Te Tiriti, end discrimination, and give meaning to tino rangatiratanga has helped build a better union movement and made a significant impact on workers.

The philosophy behind the Union Women’s Award is to support and promote the work of individuals and groups who have shown a commitment to working women’s issues.

Recipients are recognised for actions beyond their regular duties, national or international recognition of their activities, and ground-breaking or unique work in their area of responsibility.

Georgina is thoroughly deserving of this award. Congratulations Georgina and thank you for all your mahi.

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On 15 and 16 June, the PSA Pasefika network held their Biennial National Fono. There was an oversubscription of expressions of interest which is reflective of how our Pacific members are wanting to engage with their union. The Komiti selected 80 participants based on sector, geography, gender, Pacific origins, and leadership positions such as Va Moana and Youth leaders. The Komiti were pleased to see such
an abundance of interest from PSA Pacific members as the network is about bringing our Pacific people into
the union anāu with activity specific for them.

The aims of the National Fono

• Provide a report back to our members on the activities of the Komiti for the last three years.
• Raise visibility to the PSA Pasefika strategic direction and how this aligns with the PSA strategic goals.
• Educate and promote the Va Moana delegates, Pacific Sector representatives and the Pacific representative on the Executive Board
• Create opportunities for Pasefika members across demographics and sectors to engage.
• Provide learning and development opportunities in a Pasefika way.

Since July 2020, the network had been engaging and connecting with its members by teams/zoom and by email. In 2022 the network recommenced face-to-face Fono. We have been able to build up to the national Fono through the work we were doing within regions, through our demographics such as woman, youth and men Fono, and Pacific language weeks.

It was these activities that determined our theme and the mahi we needed to expose our Pacific members to so they had better insight into what the network is, how we are positioned in the PSA, the work programme and priorities for the network, and participation.

At the National Fono, we believe we achieved the following:

• Raised visibility and educated attendees on work pieces which impact Pacific workers like the Pacific Pay Gap, Kia Toipoto, the government pay gap action plan, and bargaining processes.
• Reviewed and reflected on the visions, purpose and workplans of our demographic representatives (women, men and youth)
• Carried out a gap analysis on our newly created Va Moana delegate and Pacific sector representatives and how we can continue to build, and mould these roles to respond to the needs of Pacific members

Traditionally Pacific people engage as a village. Despite the Covid restrictions that made it hard to gather in this way over the past three years, our way of engagement has still enabled the network to grow and therefore be more visible. We have created structures that are responsive, developed work plans that are flexible and allowed our network to learn and grow.

The PSA Pasefika Network will be holding their elections for the Network Komiti and Youth Leaders in October followed by the election of our Pacific Sector representatives and Co-Convenors of the Va Moana Delegate Village in November.

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To enable you to tackle this narrative when you encounter people who choose to adopt it, here are some key
pieces of information. Knowledge is power, and sharing accurate information can help change minds.

Let's start with the basics

A good place to start is to understand the difference between public service and public sector.

Public service

Public servants, in core government organisations such as ministries and departments, work across more than 250 types of roles nationwide. When we talk about public services, we are talking about vital work such as courts and justice, border protection and biosecurity, maritime and land transport safety, environmental protection, education, cyber security, collecting taxes and paying benefits.

The Public Service includes core government departments, like Conservation, Corrections, and Ministries like Health, Education, Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Social Development.

Public Sector

The public sector goes beyond public servants and includes everyone else who works for the government. These are our allied, technical, scientific and public health workers, scientist, researchers, laboratory assistants, teachers, nurses, doctors, tertiary education staff, and independent watchdogs like the Human
Rights Commission.

Then there’s the departments that support Parliament to run, Crown-owned companies like RNZ, state-owned enterprises, and local councils.

Now let's deal with the statement: "Public servants are all just back-office bureaucrats"

Public servants provide valuable work that keep us all safe and healthy. They ensure we get up-to-date information during emergencies, get taxed correctly, receive an education, provide income support to people, and support for businesses.

Most public servants work in public-facing roles, and the rest are either supporting those services or helping
to make good decisions that support all New Zealanders.

Then there is the classic statement: "But they all just work in offices in Wellington"

There are 62,043 people working in the Public Service, and most of that workforce works outside of Wellington.

How about the statement: "Cut the jobs, downsize the public service; that will save us some money!"

In the last year, the public service has shrunk by 715 people. Public services make up 14% of the public sector.

Proportionately, New Zealand’s public service is the same size as public services in Australia and the UK.

New Zealand spends a lower percentage of its GDP on public services than in Australia and the UK.

To meet both the long terms and temporary needs of the country, the public service is constantly evolving. Public servants work under the government of the day. Working to implement rules and policies that are decided upon by politicians, they are the backbone of this country.

Excessive cuts to the public service may save some money in the short term but the costs of reducing critical
support for people, their whānau, communities and businesses are likely to be far higher over time.

So, next time you hear someone saying those public servants don’t do anything, ask them: “What would we do without them?”

Where do they live?

When we look at all central government, including education and health, the largest proportion of the  workforce is in Auckland. Around 113,700 (29.6%) of 384,400 central government employees are
in Auckland.

The largest proportion of the Public Service workforce (44.7%) is located in the Wellington region, which comprises both regional and head office-based staff. This is a decrease from 44.9% in 2021. Other regions have 55.3% of the workforce, led by Auckland (20.7%), Canterbury (9.6%) and Waikato (6.5%).

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PSA policy advisor Grace Millar reviews The Big Con: How the Consulting Industry Weakens our Businesses, Infantalizes our Governments and Warps our Economies, by Mariana Mazzucato and Rosie Collington

In 2007, Stockholm’s hospital was incredibly rundown. The Stockholm County Assembly (who ran the health system) commissioned two consulting companies to write reports on whether private firms should be involved in building the new hospital.

Unsurprisingly, both firms wrote reports claiming that private involvement with a public hospital would maximise innovation and minimise costs. Consultancy firms have been used to both build and maintain the hospital and it will end up costing five times what it was originally budgeted for.  One reason for that is the costs of management consultants skyrocketed. The dynamic whereby consultants make recommendations of the value of the private sector that don’t end up eventuating will be very familiar to many PSA members.

In their very readable book, Mariana Mazzucato and Rosie Collington show that this outcome was not unusual. This book details a lot of outrageous cases, explaining contractor’s role in the Enron scandal, the UK’s disastrous response to the pandemic, and disenfranchising the people of Puerto Rico. It also demonstrates how damaging the everyday, non-scandalous, non-corrupt practices of consulting firms can be.  

One of the recurring themes in the book is the contempt consultants (and the people who hire them) have for the knowledge and experienced gained by workers, particularly by workers in the public sector. The book is full of stories of consultants who come in and do not understand the work that is done. It shows how they miss key pieces of information, provide shallow analysis and unworkable solutions. Muzzucato and Collington argue that organisations learn by doing things – and that bringing in consultants ignores what workers already know. It deprives workers and the organisations they work in, the ability to learn more.

By tracing the growth of consultancy firms over the last few decades, the authors show that the current situation is the result of decisions governments have made. The most powerful argument they make is that there is an alternative. The book concludes with an outline of four simple but powerful steps governments could take to reclaim their power and ability to act.  

If New Zealand is going to be prepared for the future that’s coming at us, then we need a strong public service, where workers are trusted to solve the problems. This book outlines how to get there.

Giveaway

Would you like to read this book? We have 3 copies to give away

Simply email us at communications@psa.org.nz with the title book give away, we will draw a winner on 14 October

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As retiring Green Party MP Jan Logie steps down from here role in parliament, three prominent PSA leaders acknowledge and thank Jan for her work within the union movement.

Support to influence

A big part of our PSA work is to influence. We do that every day in workplaces to support our members. The PSA also has a programme of political work, led by our Leadership team and supported by our strategy teams and members. This includes engaging with MPs and Ministers and the parliamentary process.

One politican who has always been the first to speak to our issues is Jan Logie. Jan Logie has been an MP with the Green Party for 14 years and a parliamentary undersecretary. Before entering parliament, Jan was an activist and leader with Women’s Refuge, the YWCA and in student politics.

As Jan now steps down from her role in parliament, we take the time to thank her on behalf of our membership.

Our voice in parliament

Jan, you were our voice in parliament. You were connected with communities that PSA members also belonged to. You were there when our work in the union movement required legislative change, or a conversation with someone who could strategize, advocate, and ask the right questions in the House of Representatives. When we needed a real champion for social justice, we had Jan Logie.

“Jan, you saw the issues bubbling away and changes that were needed and made time for the communities you were connected to, and that included us. This was so important to the PSA, and it was never taken for granted.”

Erin Polaczuk, former PSA National Secretary

“Jan, thank you for being a friend of working people, a friend to the PSA and a friend to me. Aotearoa will be worse off for not having your voice in parliament.  Thank you for your public service and all you personally sacrificed to raise up others. You are a real leader. With love and respect,

Kerry.  

Kerry Davies, PSA National Secretary

A lasting legacy

Back in 2019, Newsroom reported that: “The Greens’ Jan Logie is just a humble under-secretary, but she’s having an oversized impact on sexual and family violence reform.”

That legacy is as true today as it was four years ago. And it’s a legacy that all those who have worked on family violence issues acknowledge and celebrate.

“The very significant gains made in funding, services and sheer visibility of family violence prevention and response are testament to a politician who is both highly skilled and deeply principled.”

Brenda Pilott, former Women’s Refuge worker, former head of the Family Violence Unit and former PSA National Secretary

Thank you, Jan, you have touched the lives of many. The union movement will be forever grateful for the work you have done. We wish you well and look forward to seeing what you do next.

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This year two PSA members were nominated for Spirit of Service Awards in the Young Leader of the Year Award, including this year’s winner Saunoa (Noa) Samasoni, and Oliver Szabo.

Saunoa (Noa) Samasoni

Noa has worked with Kainga Ora Homes and Communities for seven years. Following the Auckland floods she was transferred to work within the Property and Affected Household team.

Having been involved in the Auckland flooding initial response team this was a natural progression for Nao who is based in Mangere and saw the flooding impact first hand.

“We created a team out of nothing, there was a dedicated response team set up straight away so that people could be responded to at all times. Once the initial crisis was dealt with, it was time to help people get back into their homes. I always wanted to work in my community, but never thought I would be doing this.”

A humble recipient

Nominated by Noa’s manager, Noa has been described as “the movement”and Nao humbly admits that is an accurate reflection of who she is.

“I want to make change, I constantly work hard, and am resilient. My role is varying from day to day but whether it’s dealing with contractors, maintenance partners, weather or deadlines, no day is the same and it can be extremely challenging.

For Noa this nomination is a recognition of the long hours, the emotional impact, and the hard work she has put in has been seen. But the “biggest reward when people get to return to their homes, knowing we played a part in that makes it all worthwhile,” she said.

Oliver Szabo

Oliver works at Ministry of Justice (MOJ) as a Health, Safety and Security Advisor and he was was nominated because of his work on the disability network at MOJ.

“Three years ago, MOJ were looking for volunteers, when there wasn’t a huge take up, I ended up coconvening the network,” he said.

Oliver helped establish the network, develop the terms of reference, shared stories, and run awareness events. With his support, the network is helping workers at MOJ by contributing to projects like Kia Toipoto the pay gap action plan. The network is also helping members of the public by ensuring they have reasonable access to buildings.

“I can’t believe to this day that I was nominated for the award. This work has created such a community and
that in itself is a real highlight. It has enabled people to feel like they have a safe place and that they are not alone.”

Accepting disability

Oliver suffers from constant migraines. Being in pain every day led to mental health issues, and also to eventually identifying that his chronic illness is a disability. Accepting his disability was a journey, but with it came an insight and an ability to do his part.

“I realized that I could make a difference. People see me as this able-bodied person, but what they don’t see is what I am dealing with pain every day. It taught me that there is such a misunderstanding of the disabled community and that I need to help fix that misunderstanding.

“Just because someone can stand, walk and talk doesn’t mean there isn’t a story behind them. You need to take the time to learn the person’s ‘why’.”

Which is why Oliver's next project is so important

“When someone walks into a court, you don’t know what is going on with them. We see many people with
head injuries or learning disabilities – these are unseen disabilities. This can add to what is already an extremely stressful situation. I am working on getting the Sunflower Project put in place across the Ministry of Justice,” Oliver says.

The Sunflower Project lets people with unseen disabilities make themselves easy to identify by wearing a green sunflower lanyard.

People who are trained to help those with unseen disabilities are identified by a green badge.

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PwC scandal

Earlier this year a scandal emerged as directors from consultancy PwC were found to have misused confidential tax policy information (gained through their consulting for the tax department), which they passed on to partners working for multinational companies in the US.

The Australian auditor general said an “over-reliance on PwC and other Big Four consulting
firms placed the government at strategic risk.”

Melissa Donnelly, Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) secretary decribed the scandal as “the love child of outsourcing and tax avoidance”.

PwC has since been banned from contracting to the Australian Public Service (APS) and their directors prosecuted. An ongoing Senate inquiry has also found serious issues with PwC’s dealings with its own
taxes. This has shone a spotlight on the conduct of each of the “Big Four” consultancies, some of which have declined to disclose their tax payments or political donations.

Federal- and State-level public services have responded to this by relooking at the extent of the Big Four's contracting to consultancies. The Australian Capital Territories Government, for example, has developed an insourcing framework and is working to build its own teams of “consultants” made up of public servants with the neccessary expertise.

APS well on the way to common conditions and pay

When the CPSU and Australian Public Service Commission said that within the year they’d agree common terms, conditions and pay rates for everyone in the APS, some thought they were being pretty ambitious. They have nearly done it!

Just under 40 common terms have been agreed including 18 days carer’s leave, flexible working by default with no maximum specified working from home days, and, for the first time, provisions to meet the needs of both First Nations public servants and those with disabilities. Where people have superior conditions, they keep them.

There is strong support for this from APS employers as they recognise the benefits for the whole APS of reducing the fragmentation of pay and conditions across agencies. PSA leadership thinks the same benefits apply here in Aotearoa and will continue to advocate for greater commonality of conditions and pay across public services.

Vote yes!

Soon, Australians will vote in a referendum on whether to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the constitution and create an Indigenous body to advise government and the wider parliament on issues and policies affecting Indigenous people.

There is no Tiriti equivalent in Australia, and this constitutional change is needed to give First Nations people voice.

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Kevin Bunker

From a working-class Waikato family, Kevin joined the PSA in the 1960s as a Statistics Department cadet, becoming a delegate and later a member of the national executive. He worked closely with our very influential General Secretary Dan Long.

In 1975 Kevin became Bank Officers Union Assistant General Secretary, in 1979 advocate for the Post Primary
Teachers Association and then General Secretary from 1986 during a time of considerable change; David Lange’s “Tomorrow’s Schools” reforms were followed by the Bolger National Government’s Employment Contracts Act after 1990. Kevin help steer the PPTA through this tumult and also worked in the Combined
State Unions and then the Council of Trade Unions to salvage and protect what was possible from this
onslaught against unions.

Kevin was instrumental in the fight against bulk funding of schools; the key building block for national pay settlements, including the agreement ratified in recent weeks.

Kevin initially retired to Levin to grow walnuts with his late wife Denise, but he returned to union organising for the PSA in the Central Districts for health and local government members. Members remember him for building strong union structures and developing delegates and mentoring them.

He is survived by his daughters Lorell and Jocasta and grandchildren Zavier, Paris, Daniel, Sienna, and Isabella.

Mike Farrell

Mike was born in London in 1943 and his family moved to British Columbia after the war where he developed his abiding love of rock and roll from the US Top 10 Hit Parade programmes beaming in from Seattle.

Aged 20 he travelled to New Zealand and settled in Wellington. The Ngauranga Freezing works became his alma mater - he was engrossed in the working class culture of the meat industry and an active union member. One of his key mentors at the time was Ken Findlay, who has also recently passed away.

In 1973 the works closed following a long period of strike action over redundancy compensation and Mike moved to Palmerston North with his wife Fay and the first of their five children for work at the Longburn Works. An active delegate, working closely with Roger Middlemass, when Longburn closed in 1989 he joined the Trade Union Education Authority (TUEA) in the Central Districts.

TUEA was disbanded in the wake of the Employment Contracts Act and Mike joined the PSA initially training
delegates on the State Sector and the Employment Contracts acts and then as an organiser for 20 years, working with members primarily in the core Public Service. In later years he also represented meat inspectors, a group he had a close affinity with. He retired in 2013.

With thanks to John Shennan

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In 1999, Sandar Soe started work in a garment factory in Myanmar. The working conditions included 12-hour days, low pay and no health and safety standards. So, leaving her family behind, Sandar moved to neighbouring Thailand where her pay and the working conditions, while still challenging, were much better – because of the union movement.

“The confederated trades union would often come to visit my work site. They would provide us with training on worker rights and how to be involved,” Sandar said.

While working in Thailand was better than in Myanmar, where Sandar had witnessed workers being mistreated and imprisoned, she still wanted to be with her family in Myanmar. But Sandar knew if she went home, she needed to help make change in Myanmar.

Civil disobedience

In September 2006 Sandar joined the union movement and went back home. After her return, Myanmar underwent three military coups, which saw civil rights curtailed. As a member of the Confederation of Trade Unions, Myanmar (CTUM), Sandar joined other unionists in starting a civil disobedience movement.

The military responded by issuing a warrant for her arrest, and Sandar spent 18 months in prison for high
treason. The CTUM continued its work to improve workers’ conditions and protest against the regime until
1 February 2021, when there was a complete military takeover.

For Sandar, this meant having her passport voided, and not being able to travel overseas to attend
union meetings. The regime raided Sandar’s home and the CTUM’s offices, it terminated her citizenship,
and arrested and tortured many of her colleagues.

Escape to Aotearoa

It was becoming too unsafe for Sandar to stay in Myanmar.

“I wanted to continue my work but I feared if I stayed, I would end up in jail or worse, dead,” she says.

To help Sandar leave Myanmar, CTMU worked with the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions and UnionAID to convince the New Zealand government to allow Sandar to live in New Zealand under the Human Rights Defender Programme.

For Sandar, leaving behind her family is hard, but living under a military regime was not an option.

“In Myanmar, we are just trying to exercise our democratic rights, but we have no civil liberty. In New Zealand you are very lucky, but if you do not vote, you are not deciding for your future. If you are experiencing dissatisfaction, or hardship, to not vote is just accepting these things.”

To help Sandar and the people of Myanmar – visit the UnionAID website: unionaid.org.nz

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Fair Pay Agreements (FPAs) give workers a new mechanism to allow workers and employers to set standards across whole industries and occupations. Setting industry standards can protect best employment practices, grow wages, and prevent good work being undercut by cowboy employers.

FPAs would create a similar framework to Australian Industrial Awards

Australian Awards have protected skilled employment and made it easier for decent wages to be maintained. New Zealand’s Fair Pay Agreements are even better than the Australian system, in that they have stronger democratic processes.

Australian Awards are set by their Fair Work Commission, whereas FPAs are negotiated by bargaining parties representing both employees (through unions), and employers (through industry associations). These democratic processes should lead to better outcomes for all, but the New Zealand Employment Authority can still make decide the outcome if parties can’t agree.

FPAs initiated

FPAs have been initiated for workers in hospitality, cleaning, security, bus driving, supermarkets, early childhood education and stevedoring. This means more than 200,000 workers are currently on track to improve their pay and work conditions. The FPA process is long and complicated, but by the election, the unions involved will be ready to negotiate with employers.

FPAs will be especially important to low-paid workers. Industries like security, cleaning and hospitality
cover tens of thousands of workers. Our previous industrial relations laws meant that these workers were
vulnerable to contracting out and undercutting through competitive tendering. Many work in isolated
or small workplaces which make unionization difficult.

Industry-wide agreements like FPAs are a crucial tool to supercharge union workers in these industries
and allow them to improve wages and take many of these workers and their families out of poverty.

Agreements at risk

Unfortunately, the entire FPA process is under threat from a change in government. The National and ACT parties have pledged to repeal FPAs. This would be a huge blow to the thousands of workers working hard to progress FPAs democratically.

It's crucially important to protect Fair Pay Agreements if we wish to see a fairer, stronger Aotearoa.

If you would like more information on Fair Pay Agreements, please look up the Aotearoa’s Opportunity Podcast. It has a range of episodes about what FPAs are, and how they will help fix some of New Zealand’s
biggest challenges.

Ben Peterson
CTU

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OPINION: To most of us, the idea that there might be a separation between politics and politicians and public management and officials is not that interesting.

For most, politicians are elected every three years. Officials are appointed. Politicians set the strategy and makes decisions. Officials prepare advice on strategy, and when decisions are made, implements those decisions, while keeping politicians up to date on progress.

For most of us, that’s how it should and does work.

However, as with most things, it is not that simple. The poneketanga narrative is the old public service was a drawn-out aberration, and while the new public management reforms might have been a mistake, both have been corrected with the Public Service Act 2020.

I don’t think we will know if the new statutory framework will be a success for another twenty years. But one of the things I do like about the new Public Service Act is that it acknowledges that our public institutions and public servants are not subordinate to politics or politicians. Indeed, the new statutory framework emphasises balancing, matching and harmonising the different roles of politicians and officials.

With that in mind, I do like the focus all political parties are putting on ensuring our public institutions can
meet the expectations of the people and communities. I also note both the centre-right and right parties understand the vital role the public service has to play in delivering the integrated, demonstrably high-performing public services required while indicating they look to other sources of advice and delivery to ensure their policies are enthusiastically implemented.

I would offer a word of caution – to all those seeking the privilege of occupying the Treasury benches. The
space between politicians and public servants – he pāpura or the purple zone – works best for everyone when there is some shared accountability and positive working relationships.

The public service needs a real focus on the government’s priorities and to assure ministers they are delivering core business efficiently, effectively, and equitably. It is equally important that the political machine clarifies its priorities and makes the necessary trade-offs. A poor-performing minister or a chaotic ministerial office will be a problem for an institution – no matter how good the institution is.

Similarly, while a chief executive needs to maintain and sustain their institutional capability. And it is as
essential for a minister to ensure the same institution is funded appropriately and can manage change
without compromising its core business or response to future needs.

We must never forget the lessons of Cave Creek.

Likewise, a chief executive should be able to offer a compelling performance story for executing a government strategy. Equally, a minister should not fear accountability that must be used to drive what matters. Ministers must also be capable of telling that story to the public.

I offer this reminder – one of Aotearoa-New Zealand’s greatest assets is the trust people have in our public institutions and our public servants.

An ethical and impartial public service is fundamental to maintaining that trust. But that’s not all those
institutions need to maintain confidence; they also need to deliver, be seen to provide and deliver reliable
and consistent services to all. I look forward to a new administration – whomever that is – being able to
govern with this in mind.

Deb Te Kawa (Ngāti Porou)

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The overarching goals of the hui are to help inform Māori PSA members about their voting options and help them motivate their whānau to get out and vote.

By the start of September, the PSA has successfully held three candidate pre-election hui on marae in Tāmaki Makaurau, Te Tai Tokerau and Waiariki, with more planned in September.

The first three hui

The Tāmaki Makaurau event held on Te Mahurehure Marae was a great success. It gave Māori candidates from four parties – Minister Peeni Henare (Labour), Darleen Tana Hoff-Nielsen (Greens) Hinurewa te Hau (National) and John Tamihere (standing in for Te Pati Māori) – a chance to present what they will be campaigning for in the 2023 election. Members also had the opportunity to ask questions relevant to Māori and Māori workers.

The event for Te Tai Tokerau at Terenga Paraoa Marae was attended by Minister Kelvin Davis (Labour), Hūhana Lyndon (Greens), Mariameno Kapa-Kingi (Te Pāti Māori), and Gavin Benney (New Zealand First).

The Waiariki hui was held on Te Papaiouru Marae and attracted Rawiri Waititi and Merepeka Raukawa-Tait
(Te Pāti Māori), Toni Boynton (Labour) and Charles Tiki Hunia (Vision New Zealand).

Reflections on the hui so far

At the hui held to date, the candidates explained the policies of their respective parties. There was also agreement from all the candidates that more needed to be done for Māori and the need to have more Māori supported to work in public and community services.

All candidates recognised the significant value that the PSA has brought to public services in Aotearoa.

The common themes of the hui were tino rangatiratanga and the obligation of the Crown to Māori under Te Tiriti, with the unanimous understanding that when Māori thrive, the country thrives. There was a very a special rapport between the candidates, and support and respect for each other, in standing on behalf of Māori.

View videos of the candidates kōrero:

Waiariki

Te Tai Tokerau

Te Ikaroa Rāwhiti

Hauraki-Waikato

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